The Princeton economic history of the Western World

ABSTRACT

The beginning to this paper discusses the ongoing evolution of bacteria, notably viruses, the most successful and common creatures in the biosphere. In the very long narrative of human history, only a very small recent incident occurs. After being the first species to control fire, H. erectus fled Africa to settle in Asia and Europe. Equatorial species diversity provided a plenty of food, but it also resulted in an abundance of insects that may harbor pathogens. The first dangers to health, not domestication, came from the Tse tse fly, Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes, and other mobile disease carriers. Human intestines were a smooth ride for helminths. A second outbreak of the bubonic plague decimated half of Europe's population in a span of years in 1348. It was followed by the first European contact with the Americas, which resulted in a sharp drop in local American populations due to European diseases and harsh treatment. Mexico experienced one of the worst demographic catastrophes ever recorded in history in the 16th century, when 60 to 80% of the people died. Salmonella enterica paratyphi, the intestinal bacteria that causes paratyphoid fever, had its DNA found in a mass grave from that period and place. The article's conclusion highlights the eradication of infectious diseases, which was made possible by pesticides, vaccines, plumbing, and antibiotics, as the greatest accomplishment of the 20th century. This is "one of the indisputably important achievements of our species," according to this report. Without a doubt, it contributed significantly to the growth of the human population to heights above a billion. Even if COVID-19 appeared as the novel was being written, the main narrative is nevertheless supported by the rapid development of a vaccine. Yes, there will always be new epidemics, especially as human communities become more encircled by wild rodent populations, but scientific improvements also shield us from total extinction.